Agency Overview

Mission Statement

“The mission of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) is to promote and deliver quality, well-managed homes to a diverse low income population and, with partners, contribute to the well-being of the individuals, families and community we serve.”

In 2008, MPHA became a full status Moving to Work (MTW) agency. Under MTW authority, all of MPHA’s funding is combined. As a result, MPHA is able to allocate funding without program restrictions to meet agency priorities. Under MTW, MPHA submits an MTW Plan and Report to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for approval. Under the Plan, MPHA may waive some federal law and regulations to implement MTW initiatives.

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program is a federally funded program that provides vouchers, rental subsidies, to low-income families for use in the private rental housing market. The voucher may be placed with a private landlord or in a project based program. Most participants pay approximately 30% of their adjusted income as rent, the voucher pays the remaining rent. MPHA administers over 4,600 vouchers.

MPHA owns and manages over 6,000 public housing rental units. These rental units consist of 42 highrise apartment buildings, 753 single family homes, and 184 town home units in the Glendale family development in Prospect Park. Also, there are 312 public housing units available to persons on MPHA’s public housing waitinglist. These units are located in mixed finance developments throughout the Metropolitan Area. In general public housing residents pay 30% of their adjusted income as monthly rent in this federally subsidized program.

MPHA established a Senior Housing Program in 1993 and has designated 12 apartment builidngs with over 1900 apartments for persons 50 years of age or older. MPHA contracts with partners who provide assisted living programs, a memory care program and supportive services to seniors in various buildings in multiple locations throughout the city of Minneapolis.

MPHA supports resident councils which foster community building and resident activities and participation. MPHA has cooperative agreements with various service providers. These service providers offer social work services, a brain injury program, an epilepsy program, congregate dining, and other services to qualifying residents.

MPHA’s Facilities and Development Department works with MPHA staff and consults with public housing residents to identify capital needs, make improvements, implement new development initiatives, and ensure the preservation of all MPHA properties. This Department has effectively used Moving to Work authority, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, and energy performance contracts to make substantial property improvements. These improvements have reduced MPHA’s capital needs backlog, resulted in energy conservation, a reduction in MPHA’s carbon footprint, and contributed to the long-term preservation of its properties.